The Not So Small Small Print.

(Jack is very flattered... but is forced to say...)
I’ve had a surprising number of e-mails from people who have said very nice things about the couple of little stories that I’ve posted already. It really is very kind of them, and I’m very pleased that they found my bits and pieces worth reading.
I’ve even had a very nice e-mail from a university professor who asked very courteously if he could use my piece on two-up, two-down cottages. As you can imagine I felt very flattered and immediately said of course he could. Anything that helps education in any way is wonderful, and the thought that my two-pennyworth might come in handy is just great.
But now I have had two e-mails warning me that something very like my first tale, almost word for word in fact, has very recently appeared in a paid-for publication. Not only have I had not one word from the editor asking my permission, but neither have I had an offer of even a penny piece for the author.
That, in my book, is theft.
I like the idea of anyone enjoying my memories very much indeed, but I don’t much care for the idea that some unworthy skunk is making money out of them without so much as a by-your-leave, or – even more importantly – without paying Jack for the material that has been stolen.
Anyway, it’s now all been taken out of my hands. A very nice publisher, who seems to think there might be some reward in it for both of us, has written to me making me an offer that no OAP in his right mind could refuse, the gist of which is that he will buy FBSRs on everything that I write with a first option to buy full copyright on any part of it, or all of it, should I wish to dispose of my rights permanently. That of course doesn’t stop me sharing my memories with you on this blog, I’ve made sure of that, but he does insist that to protect both of us I must now make it plain that I unequivocally claim copyright in the contents of this blog and must reserve all my rights. Further he says I must say that, without limiting my rights, no part of this blog may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical recording or otherwise without prior permission. He then added, parenthetically, that any infringement will be met will the full force of the law, and that his legal department will be watching.
I told him that none of my friends would dream of doing anything like that, but he said he wasn’t addressing my friends, who he felt sure are all most honourable. What he is doing is warning the fortunately small number of real pirates who cruise the web these days.
Well all this sounds dreadfully formal and I’m very sorry to have to say it all, but apparently we live in a naughty world..........